Today for our Friday Favorites, the Morning Thing Cohosts share their favorites snack-foods for National Snack Food Month! What’s your favorite snack that you can’t go without?
The Morning Thing Celebrates National Snack Food Month!
The Mount Vernon Police Department receives the Large Size Business of the Year Award from Experience Mount Vernon
The Mount Vernon Police Department won the award for Large Size Business of the Year.
Chief Robert Morgan shares about his department – 34 officers, 40 total employees.
Click HERE to hear Marcy Rinehart’s conversation with Chief Morgan.
He talks about being connected to Experience Mount Vernon providing safety at the downtown events and also how positive it is to allow his officers connect to kids and families on a personal level.
We talk about the K9 unit and how the kids love them and love to see the police cars.
We also talk about the PAK United group – Police and Kids events will be coming up in the spring.
You can stay connected at the PAK United Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064635570460
Stay connected with Experience Mount Vernon!
Website – experiencemv.org
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ExperienceMountVernon
Phone – 740-393-1481
Email – director@experiencemv.org
MTVarts receives the Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award from Experience Mount Vernon
Jessica Ryals, Development for Education and Bruce Jacklin, Artistic Director with MTVarts share their thoughts about winning the award for Non-Profit Organization of the Year. They highlight upcoming events for the spring and summer.
They talk about being part of First Fridays and Community Corner.
New website is coming soon – mtvarts.com
Click HERE to hear Marcy Rinehart’s conversation with Jessica and Bruce.
Stay connected with MTVarts:
Website – www.mtvarts.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MTVarts
Stay connected with Experience Mount Vernon!
Website – experiencemv.org
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ExperienceMountVernon
Phone – 740-393-1481
Email – director@experiencemv.org
Ann Weisent-Page of Knox Foodies receives the Spirit of Heritage Award from Experience Mount Vernon
Ann Weisent-Page of Knox Foodies received the Spirit of Heritage Award. This award honors an individual for their hard work throughout the year to support downtown Mount Vernon. The award is like the Volunteer of the Year Award.
Ann shares how Knox Foodies started and talks about how she volunteers throughout the year bringing food trucks to downtown events.
Click HERE to hear Marcy Rinehart’s conversation with Ann Weisent-Page.
Ann shares how to stay connected to Knox Foodies – on Facebook search for Knox Foodies LLC. @KnoxFoodies on Instagram
Stay connected with Experience Mount Vernon!
Website – experiencemv.org
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ExperienceMountVernon
Phone – 740-393-1481
Email – director@experiencemv.org
Jen Odenweller receives the Walter Rudin Award from Experience Mount Vernon
Jen Odenweller received the Walter Rudin Award. This award honors an individual for their long-term, lifetime service to support downtown Mount Vernon.
Jen talks about her passion for downtown Mount Vernon and how fortunate our community is to have Experience Mount Vernon building wonderful partnerships.
Click HERE to hear Marcy Rinehart’s conversation with Jen Odenweller.
Jen also talks about the legacy of Walter Rudin and how she is working to continue his work of revitalization, continued investment and supporting and promoting our heritage.
Stay connected with Experience Mount Vernon!
Website – experiencemv.org
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ExperienceMountVernon
Phone – 740-393-1481
Email – director@experiencemv.org
Experience Mount Vernon hosts their annual Awards Breakfast
Lacey Filkins, Executive Director of Experience Mount Vernon shares her thoughts about the Awards Breakfast.
Click HERE to hear Marcy Rinehart’s conversation with Lacey.
She talks about the birth of her son Maxwell. She shares some highlights from the 2023
events – great crowds, fun exhibits for kids and community support.
Lacey Filkins also gives us more details about several awards that were handed out.
She also tells how you can get involved in 2024 – as a volunteer or a sponsor.
First Friday dates are set for 2024!
Website – experiencemv.org
Phone – 740-393-1481
Email – director@experiencemv.org
Congratulations to the Experience Mount Vernon 2023 Award Winners!
2023 Small Business of the Year: Baxter’s Wine & Whiskey
2023 Mid-Size Business of the Year: Mount Vernon Grand Hotel
2023 Large Business of the Year: Mount Vernon Police Department
2023 Non-Profit of the Year: MTVarts
2023 Community Pride Award: The Annex by The Gund at Kenyon College
2023 Spirit of Heritage Award: Ann Weisent-Page
2023 Walter Rudin Award: Jen Odenweller
January 2024 Spotlight on Mount Vernon with Mayor Matt Starr
Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr shared updates on the City with The Morning Thing on Friday, 1/26/24.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation.
Topics included:
• A discussion about current construction and maintenance projects for the city.
o He talks about the partnerships with other groups in the process of these construction and water projects.
o Mayor Starr talks about adopting the school routes and how the city will be making these safer by adding crosswalks in the warmer months.
o Updates on the water projects around the city
• Update on a neighborhood revitalization grant
• Update on the development at the old Middle School Property on Mulberry Street
• Mayor Starr shares updates from Mount Vernon City Council:
o Welcome to Mike Miller as he joins the council
o Logistics of council meetings and the expectations for council members
o Rules of conduct and online auctions
o Approval for the city to be a part of the exciting Fourth of July celebration in 2026, highlighting Ohio’s significance in the union.
• Update from Mount Vernon Budget Meeting on Saturday, January 20th
• Mayor Starr gives an update on the new 2.7 acres the city of Mount Vernon just bought for a potential new fire station.
• Mayor Starr shares his thoughts about the city’s response to the Winter weather that has impacted Mount Vernon.
• Updates from the Mount Vernon Police Department
o the new captain and the sergeant’s test that recently occurred
o funding for both the police and fire departments and how they are thriving
• Updates from the Mount Vernon Fire Department and he awards that some of the fire department members have received
• Mayor Starr gives updates about city plans during February
o The recreation board meets on February 7th at 7:00
o The Patriotic and Memorial Committee will begin planning
o Planning for the 2024 season for Hiawatha Water Park and Pool
o Logistics Planning for the Fireworks for the future
o America 250 planning committee
• Mayor Starr shares his goals for February and other important updates and projects on the horizon
• Mayor Starr shares some of the biggest priorities for his team in 2024.
• He also shares how we can pray for him and his team.
To stay in touch with the City, go to:
- Website – http://www.mountvernonohio.org
- Facebook – The City of Mount Vernon
- Twitter – CityMV1805
- YouTube – The City of Mount Vernon
- LinkedIn – City of Mount Vernon, Ohio
The Food For The Hungry Crew celebrates a day of giving!
On Friday, 12/8, a very large broadcast crew met and worked together to bring the 2023 Food For The Hungry Broadcast to the Knox County community.
We brought in equipment and expertise from several companies, over 25 college students from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, two MVNU professors and a lot of volunteers.
The Knox Memorial and Theater buzzed with excitement as we shared check presentations, total announcements from many events and collections, and handed out 21 Winter Grants to local food initiatives. It was an incredible day!
Our current Food For The Hungry total is $263,502.08 and 11 truckloads of food!
Click HERE to listen to the crew as they share their thoughts after a 7-hour broadcast raising funds and celebrating a giving community.
The drive continues until 12/31 and you can still give at http://www.foodforthehungrycares.org
Last year, the extra donations over the 2022 goal enabled Food For The Hungry to give out $25,000 in Summer Grants to help feed kids over the summer months. Every dollar counts!
Thanks for helping us to live out the mission, “Working Together to Care for Our Neighbors”!
The Salvation Army and Food For The Hungry work together to serve families
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Captain Christine Moretz of the Mount Vernon Salvation Army.
This is a busy time for the ministry as they serve families in our community for Christmas.
Christine shares some eye-opening stats of their service numbers for 2023. The need has greatly increased.
She shares her biggest needs right now and her goals for 2024.
They shared a top 10 list for the food pantry and how the Army can take a dollar donation and turn that into $4.89 worth of food!
Christine also shared how we can pray for her and her team.
The Salvation Army needs volunteers on Friday’s Food For The Hungry Drive Day and for red kettles. Can you help?
Please call 740-392-8716.
Click HERE for more information about The Salvation Army.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation.
Festival of Trees returns to Apple Valley to support Food For The Hungry
WNZR’s Allison Prouty talked with Food For The Hungry volunteer, Audrey Spearman.
Audrey shared how she got involved with this incredible project. She also shares how she volunteers each year to feed the crew on Drive Day.
Audrey also shares the exciting news that the Festival of Trees is returning to Apple Valley! You can see 9 trees at the Floral Valley Community Center and drop off a donation for Food For The Hungry. The collection will continue throughout December.
The Floral Valley Community Center is located at 850 Crestrose Drive in Howard.
Their hours are:
Monday through Friday: 2pm – 7pm
Saturday 9AM – 7PM
Sunday Noon – 7PM
Click HERE for more information on Food For The Hungry.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation with Audrey Spearman.
Rise and Shine 